Happy Birthday to Sushi Cat and Siddharta's Girl!

To two very good friends...

First, to my sweet Sushi.  Remember when you used to eat broccoli off my plate?  You are such a weirdo.  A loving and fluffy weirdo.  I miss you.  We will be on the same cloud one day!  Here is some broccoli cake for your birthday.  Don't eat it all in one sitting!

And, Siddharta's Girl!  My dear friend!  Though I have never met you in person, we have always related in a way that no two other people could.  I'm very thankful for the Internet because it has brought so many great people into my life, including you.  I hope you have wonderful birthday with your two kiddos and that special someone.  For you, a Japanese rock garden cake!

Woo the Wonder Dogby MonkeyPig, guest blogger

Woo is a wonder dog.

I don't think many dogs can say I've been to almost the four corner of the United States. She's left her marks, and I do mean marks, at the beaches of Kaneohe Bay, Jekyll Island, Redondo beach, and St Petes in Florida. She's never been to the New England states. But. she's been to Seattle. She criss-crossed the US no less about 4 times.

She was a wonderful companion. She was considerate. Even up to the very end, she struggled outside to poop because she doesn't want to mess up the house for Mommy and Baysee.

She is a dog with will of steel. In February 2011, despite her arthritis and hip dysplasia, she slowly inched up a 45 degree incline hill of about 300 yards during one of our afternoon runs. We can't use the usual empty street because it was a work day. We went to a large empty field where Baysee and I ran. She did her usual thing to explore and light exercise. Baysee and I was running up-and-down that hill. As we came back the second time around, Woo was slowly hobbling up that hill as if to show us that she can do it, too. This is Woo - strong willed to the very end. I wish people are as strong as her.

She was really happy to see all the Aunties in May this year. It was supposed to be just Ca Loc, Wah Toh and Leung Gor. But, Nonny Nu, 3Fish, and So Ba Sing showed up to surpise Monkeypig. Woo was the star of the reunion. It was like when we were in the old house.

Even at the very end, on Wednesday, she mustered up all her energy to spent time with me. I fed her and stroked her back and gave her tummy rubs. The vet let us go outside. It was a sunny day. We spent about 20 minutes outside. She propped her head up to look around. She was so weak that I had to support her whole body for her to poop and pee.

When the decision was made, though she was very weak, for a few minutes, when she heard my voice, she looked into my eyes giving me permission and telling me to not worry about her as Sushi had reserved a bunk space for her.

She laid in my arms and went into a peaceful slumber around 1 AM.

The folks, like her Aunties, Cousins, and the Nu Warren family who had shared in our adventures, I thank you for your supports and love.

I encourage all of us with pets to view them like family and give them love. The funny thing about dogs and cats is that even if you don't love them, they unconditionally love you to death.

I put together this video as a chronical to Woo's life over these past 3-4 years. For those of you who are i-woo-literate, Woo is the black pit bull with the white streak up the nose and white chest. The younger brother Baysee it the funny looking brown down with a wrinkly forehead.

Woo, don't steal Sushi's food as you did mine.

My New Roommate by Sushi, guest blogger

Hello, everybody!

Sushi here with an update on Pet Paradise.

I was assigned a new roommate early this morning.  Her name is "Woo."  It turns out that we have mutual friends and are, in fact, related.  I had never met Woo before so I was so surprised to know that she is my cousin on my mom's side.

Yesterday, Management installed a bunk bed in my room and told me I was going to get a roommate.  When Woo arrived in the wee hours of the morning, she came bounding into the apartment and gave me a great big hug.  Woo is a fun gal!  And, very thoughtful (she said she'd take the top bunk since I like to be cozy and "enclosed" on the bottom bunk).  [Interesting trivia:  When mom and Auntie MonkeyPig were growing up, they also shared a bunk bed with Auntie MonkeyPig on the top bunk and mom on the bottom bunk.]

As we got to talking, I was very surprised to learn that Woo used to have arthritis because she had jumped up to the top bunk with no problem.  She told me how her very loving momma would take her all over the country in a stroller and take her on nature walks.  I think Woo is the most well-travelled doggie among my acquaintances here in Pet Paradise.  We talked until the sun came up and she told me about seeing Yosemite and many different national parks.  She also described extensively the lovely roads her mom drove on with Woo and her brother, Baysee, sitting comfortably in the back seat, humming tunes and taking in the scenery.  Woo said she had a lot of fun.

While she was reminiscing about her travels, Woo hit on what she wanted to do with her life here in Pet Paradise:  Woo has decided to become Pet Paradise's first tour guide.  We have many hills, forests, lakes, and even deserts here in Pet Paradise--we have anything we want here!  Being a well-travelled doggie with many road trips under her belt, Woo will be fantastic at this.  I include a pic of Woo (right) when she went out this morning to figure out a good route for her first tour.  (She said that her ticket prices will be reasonable and she will offer that all military families will enjoy the tours free of charge.)

Woo is also going to learn to swim.  That was one thing that she hasn't done yet.  We have a class for that (it's free--don't worry Aunt MonkeyPig).

But there is one thing that Woo and I have very much in common--we love food!  Both of our moms knew this about us and would feed us table scraps.  Yum...  Here in Pet Paradise, the cafeteria is filled with dinner tables and chairs, but we don't sit at the tables.  No, we sit under the tables and among the chair legs.  That's just how we roll in Pet Paradise!

Before I end this transmission, I'd like to give a shout out to my mom and dad!  **flicks tail**

Yours truly,
Sushi

P.S.  Woo brought this picture with her and it's now on the table in the foyer of our apartment.  It shows Woo's mom and younger brother with Woo on a camping trip.

June Birthdays

Hello, everyone! Just wanted to take this time to say a very special "Happy Birthday!" to my bestest kitty, Sushi Cat. You are the most special soul and I miss you so much. I know that you are up there having fun and making sure there is a comfy cloud for Momma and Daddy when we see you again. I love you very much. Here is a pepperoni pizza for you from Momma, kitty. Don't eat too much because you know you can't handle the spice so well.

Now, for my dear friend, Siddharta's girl. This has been a year of changes and progress. I am so happy that you are pursuing and finding your faith. I hope that you will find peace and happiness because you deserve it. For you, a zen cake...

Last, but not least, I had one of the best birthday celebrations ever. Not only was I taken to lunch, my awesome friends Green Thumbs McGillicutty, Mr. McGillicutty, Cl. Panic, A-Dog, and L. Woods threw an impromptu birthday celebration for me that night at the McGillicutty ranch. Even Mr. Nonny Nu was there! The McGillicuttys cooked delicious burgers on the grill, accompanied by a light orzo salad and homemade, slow cooked Boston baked beans. L. Woods provided yummy drinks to cool everyone down. And the meal ended with the Panic-Dogs' guava cake topped with Green Thumb's scrumptious homemade strawberry ice cream and TWO KINDS OF WHIPPED CREAM provided by L. Woods! These people know me so well.

But the things that touched me the most was the fact that these very busy people who routinely stay late to work had taken the day off early in order to make this impromptu party happen for me, that these people who highly value their precious and relatively scarce time with their families would give up that time to include me, and that a certain person who rarely ventured from the house got himself dressed and ready to go by the time I got home to participate in this celebration. That was the best gift of all and I will always cherish the memories in my heart.

Now, you all know how I normally like to keep my face off of the blog but I will break that rule and show you pics of me and the cake so that you can see my happiness and contentment. That fireball in the foreground is the cake with 36 candles on it.

Missing Kitty

This week, I've been very down.  It's the Darkest Week of the Year.  I hope that my little Sushi cat is happy playing in Pet Paradise.  It's just not the same without her.

I remember meeting her for the first time.  It was love at first sight.  I loved to bury my face in her striped coat.  She always smelled dusty.  Sushi wasn't into cleaning.  What a stinky cat!  But, she would smile all the time.  Her face was two eyes, a pink nose, and two white puffs to the left and right with whiskers sticking out.  She loved us and we loved her.

Sushi was with me through some really dark times.  She was always by my side.  Always loving me and encouraging me.  I was never alone.  I feel horrible for working so much during her last days.  I wish I had more time with her.  I hope to see her in Heaven.  Maybe we can share a cloud.  That would make me extremely happy.

Sushi's the first person I truly, deeply cared about whom I've lost.  I'd never really experienced loss before. I'm a naturally sanguine person, but in my relationships now, there's always a melancholy shadow reminding me that things never last.

Here's Sushi's tribute video again, to the music of The Beatles.  I still can't listen to Here Comes the Sun when it comes on on the radio.



Okay, I must go back into denial.

Happy Birthday to Sushi and ogunsgirl !

Hello Kitty, you are the best kitty in the world. Your smiley face and judgmental eyes are always in my heart. I hope you have found new friends in Kitty Paradise. Momma will be there in several decades and then we can play all day! I love you! In the meantime, feast on this:

To my dear friend ogunsgirl, what a year! Here's to another 7 years of friendship!